The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-24
THAT PENSION CIRCULAR.
The Tribune Gives It's Side of the Contro-
yersy and Fairchilds Relation Thereto

NEW YORK, April 23-In regard to the cortro.
versy which has arisen about its circular to the
Grand Army posts in the country, asking for ex-
BILL tho Tribune will say editorially to- morrow:
Now that the battle over the Tribure's
modest, tranquil and successful endeavor TO OBJ
tain from the veterans of the Grand Army their
individual opinions the subject of pension
legislation has spread over the country it is we'll
TO inquire in the interest of peace and good fellow
ship, who the antagonists 1t is easy to dis
tinguish the leaders on one side. They are those
devoted friends and close confdants of the
soldiers, who, in their worship of reform in
general and the present administration in par
.icular, were lately proclaiming, that
dependent pensions bill and reioiced
in the veto. They are naturally unwilling
that their prophetic tenderness should lose its
delicate bloom by being subjected to any rude
and unhallowed test, and so they are all up in
arms, from Alaska to the Dry Tortugas, and the
battle wages fierce and hot. But whom are they
fighting? Certainly not the Tribune We are
mere spectators, looking with interest and
amusement and waiting quietly for the smoke
to lift, SO that we can see who has been killed
Moreover, tho soldiers themselves are taking no
hand in the conflict but are sending in their re-
plies to our questions as fast can con-
veniently take care of them 1t is plain enough
to see whom the reformers suppose their enemy
solutely certain that they are fighting
that man Blaine Any movement
which is likely to elicit an expression
of the popular will on any subject must. In the
very nature of things, be movement in his IN
teres,, TO be headed off by them at any cost.
This accounts for the fury and the wind. and if.
perchance. when this cruel warts over, it should
be found that the casualties are all among them
selves, it would account for that also. And yet
they are objects of pity as we'll as of contempt.
Tnav
They have dim idea that they are keeping their
rudder true The Tribune. we have said. oc
cupies the position of a cheerful, disinterested
and magnanimous spectator; but II is a fact that
we had some share in the prelminaries, and for
the sake of historical truth we don't
mind telling again just what that share was. So
many people had been rising up to proclaim vo-
ciferously the views of the soldiers about pen
sions that it seemed to worth while to take
the trouble of ascertaining what their views act
ualy were, aud. in accordance with our practice
in such cases. we perpetrated the enormity of
going straight to headquarters. The command
er-in-chlef of the Grand Army, i'll referring to
his general order No. II, lDstructing the mem
oers to answer no questions, and to the decision
of the executive committee Of the council sus-
tanning that order, is reported to have said that
| he knew nothing of the Tribunes efforts or de-
sires.' 1t was a cruel thing to thus msrepresent
| a gallant and manned veteran like General Fair
child We possess the best possible proof that
| he cannot have said any such thing, for when We
| had determined to get the individual opinion OF
the soldiers under discussion we wrote directly
to General Farchild for list of the Grand
| Army posts and for frank expression of his
own views about pensions. To this letter we
received, through his adjutant general, E. B.
| Gray, a prompt and cordial reply, saying that
| such list as essential to purpose
| could be furnished from headquarters for
| the sum of $25. This was entirely satisfactory,
| and, having received the list and authentic
| statement of General Fairchild's hearty support
of the most liberal system of pension legislation,
| we forwarded check for the stipulated sum,
! and thus concluded the preliminary stage of the
| inquiry. Our circular request for a similar ex-
! preston from the rank and file followed in due
course. And we take this opportunity to thank
! the members of the Grand Army for their
| prompt responses to questions. These
| loyal and unsefsh citizens initial
| ing the courtesy OF their commander
in-chief by frank avowal of their
personal and individual views, without the leas,
fear of being misrepresented by the Tribune, bu,
! vastly amused at the antics of their volunteer
mouthpieces. They understand perfectly that
| the Tribune does not want partisan utterance
| or an official pronunciamento. and they share
| our conviction that the country, having beer
forced to hear the the profe ssional rawlings from
the reform tripod. would gladly listen to the
soldiers views from the soldiers lips"